At just under two hours north of L.A., Bakersfield provides the most accommodation options as the largest city between Los Angeles and Sequoia. From here you have the choice of cutting up into Sequoia National Forest via California State Route 178 to the Kern River or heading north up California State Route 65 to the west entrance of Sequoia National Park. Fuel up for that hike or horseback ride in the park with a family-style meal at one of Bakersfield's Basque restaurants -- the most gathered in one city anywhere in the country. Or spend an evening on the "streets of Bakersfield" at the establishment of the country singer who recorded that tune in 1973. Buck Owens' Crystal Palace (buckowens.com) is a hub of country talent, live music, dancing and juicy steaks.
Spend the night near the doorstep of Sequoia National Park. Nearly three hours north of Los Angeles off California State Route 99, Visalia appropriately bills itself as the "Gateway to the Sequoias" and is one of the San Joaquin Valley's most comfortable destinations for lodging, food and activities packed into a scenic small-town atmosphere. Be sure to pull over at any roadside produce stands you see along the way for a succulent taste of this agricultural heartland. Leave the car parked at your hotel for the option of the city's Sequoia Shuttle on a round trip through the park's most popular sights (reservations.sequoiashuttle.com).
Wind up through the High Desert and the bedroom community of Lancaster to stay at your Sequoia fork in the road. An hour and a half north of L.A., Mojave offers the choice to go west over the Tehachapi Pass and up into the south or west entrances to Sequoia or go east to connect with Sequoia's back door: U.S. Highway 395, which runs along the east side of the park. Mojave offers a handful of basic chain motels as well as a greater draw for fans of space travel: the Mojave Air & Space Port civilian program testing site (mojaveairport.com). Eat at the terminal's Voyager Airport Restaurant, with a tower radio at every table, or schedule your Sequoia trip to hit a monthly “Plane Crazy” Saturday, when the port is opened to visitors.
A stay in Ridgecrest puts you southeast of Sequoia National Park on the back side of the Sierras. At about 2.5 hours from L.A., this is a military city at the south end of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. Not only does Ridgecrest offer a better assortment of hotels than Mojave, but getting here is half the fun as you pass through -- and stop at -- dramatic Red Rock Canyon State Park. Here the Sierra Nevada meets up with the El Paso Range and brilliantly painted cliffs rise out of the desert. You may love it so much that you shrug off the idea of a hotel room in nearby Ridgecrest. Fifty campsites at Red Rock are first come, first served (parks.ca.gov).
